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4261029 
Journal Article 
Selectivity Tailoring in Liquid Phase Oxidation Over MWNT-Mn3O4 Nanocomposite Catalysts 
Biswal, M; Dhas, VV; Mate, VR; Banerjee, A; Pachfule, P; Agrawal, KL; Ogale, SB; Rode, CV 
2011 
Yes 
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
ISSN: 1932-7447
EISSN: 1932-7455 
115 
31 
15440-15448 
English 
WOS:000293419700042 
Highly selective multiwalled nanotubes (MWNT)-Mn3O4 nano-composite catalyst was designed for liquid phase oxidation of p-cresol, which gave highest selectivity of 90% to the first step oxidation product, p-hydroxy benzyl alcohol. Mn3O4 nanoparticles and MWNT-Mn3O4 nanocomposites were synthesized by coprecipitation route using mixed precursors under controlled conditions. The phase purity of Mn3O4 and the formation of MWNT-Mn3O4 nanocomposites were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the selective exposure of (101) and (001) planes of Mn3O4 nanoparticles in the MWNT-Mn3O4 composite, while lowering in oxidizing capacity of MWNT-Mn3O4 nanocomposite confirmed by cyclic voltametry was due to incorporation of electron rich MWNT. Thus, selectivity tuning of the new material (MWNT-Mn3O4 nanocomposite) was found to be due to alteration in both geometric as well as electronic properties. A plausible reaction pathway also has been proposed involving the predominant role of nucleophilic lattice oxygen (O2-) species due to exposure of particular crystal planes giving highest selectivity to p-hydroxy benzyl alcohol.